Who can compete in a dog show?
If you are a happy, proud purebred dog owner, you might already think about giving your dog a chance to compete in a dog show.
At first sight, this competition can look like fun and quite easy activity for both you and your dog, but in reality, it is a serious event and it can be very difficult to compete there and win it.
First of all, you need to do a dog DNA test to check your dog’s genetics, hereditary diseases and vulnerabilities. When you will know that your dog is healthy and has no potential problems you can start to work with your dog!
Genetic testing is very important especially for larger dog breeds such as Basset Hunds. Since the legs of these dogs are relatively short compared to their weight, it is very important to feed your Basset Hund with a good food so your dog does not become obese and its leg joints do not suffer.
In this article, we will help you to understand dog show rules and requirements better. After reading this you can decide is it worth for your dog to compete in a dog show or not.

What is EKC?
European Kennel Club is an organization that goal is to educate people about certificated dogs breeding. Also, AKC organizes and approves various events related to dogs every year. In the United States of Europe, this institution has a lot of member clubs and affiliated clubs also. Clubs aim focuses not only on dog show events. EKC clubs in Europe do many public activities and the entire community can get a benefit from it. EKC main purpose is to educate people about dogs and their breeds.
Only EKC registered dogs can enter a dog show. It shows and guarantees that a dog and its ancestors are purebred. This registration does not guarantee health and quality of the breed. Your dog can be registered with the EKC only if its parents were. It means that your dog can not enter the competition if its ancestors were not in the EKC register. Also, dog owners can use full EKC line for educational and informational purposes.
Dogs that cannot participate
These days designer dogs are becoming more and more popular. For those who do not know about it, Designer dog is a mix between two different breeds, for example, corgi husky mix. Puppy of this mix breed would be called Corgsky, Horgi or Siborgi. But none of these “breeds” are allowed to enter and participate in the EKC or AKC dog shows. These types of dogs do not have constant and certain features. Every puppy can look different and none of them will look like one of their parents. For example, one Corgski puppy can have long legs and look like Corgi at a first sight, another puppy can have short legs but look like Huskie. Designer dogs are non-purebreds and they cannot compete in dog shows.
What is a dog show?
Showing your dog can be a fun sport with the excitement of competition combined with happiness seeing so many beautiful dogs. Dog shows are just one type of EKC events in which registered dogs are able to compete. Such events draw millions of visitors every year. EKC events are tests of instincts and train abilities, field and agility trials, herding trials, hunting tests, tracking tests, dog shows etc. One of the purposes of dog shows is to estimate breeding stocks. Dog shows can be from large all-breed shows with many contestants to small specific breed clubs shows. Dogsbody structure and appearance shows its ability to produce quality puppies.
Types of Conformation Dog shows
There are three main types of dog shows.
All-breed shows – where all EKC registered breeds can participate. These types of shows are usually shown on television.
Specialty shows – are shows where only one breed and its variations can participate. For example Bulldog show, Labrador Retriever show etc.
Group shows – it is a show in which only one of the seven dogs group can participate.

The seven groups of dogs in the show
Working – breeds in this group guard property and work in certain services such as rescue. Breeds: Boxer, Akita, Doberman Pincher, St. Bernard etc
Hound – dogs in this group were bred to hunt and help for hunters. Breeds: Beagle, Borzoi, English Foxhound, Greyhound, Basenji, Afghan hound etc.
Sporting – these dogs were bred to hunt game birds. Breeds: Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, Flat-Coated Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shorthaired Pointer, Irish Setter etc.
Terrier – were bred to protect houses from vermins. Breeds: Border Terrier, Australian Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier etc.
Toy – dogs in this group were bred to be human companions in the home. Breeds: English Toy Spaniel, Chihuahua, Manchester Terrier, Maltese etc.
Non-sporting – dogs in this group are companions. Breeds: Boston Terrier, Bulldog, Chow Chow, Dalmatian, French Bulldog.
Herding – these dogs were bred to help for shepherds to herd their livestock. Breeds: Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Collie, German Shepherd, Pembroke Welsh Corgi etc.
Tips for those who enter dogs show for the first time
Every participant must be registered with the EKC, so make sure that you did that. You must learn certain techniques of grooming and presenting your dog to the judges. Join your dogs breed club or your local club, people there can help you with any difficulty that you can encounter. Carefully study rules of dog shows that your dog is going to participate. Visit some dog shows before, examine dogs and owner who competes there. Also, you can always talk to your breeder about this competition.